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Tamoxifen and higher HbA1c?

F

Flane

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello, I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone knows if there is a link between prediabetes and long-term Tamoxifen medication. Recently I was told my HbA1c is 45 and I have a low BMI (<20), and no family history of diabetes., so I am wondering what may have caused it. I have embarked on a low-carb diet but am losing weight - not ideal! Is is ever "OK" to have a HbA1c of 45, or should everyone with such a level try to reduce it?
Many thanks.
 
Hi @Flane and welcome to the forums.

Looks like there might be a slight link (chances go up by a factor of 1.25)

Association between tamoxifen treatment and diabetes: a population-based study - PubMed

Current tamoxifen therapy is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes in older breast cancer survivors. These findings suggest that tamoxifen treatment may exacerbate an underlying risk of diabetes in susceptible women; further studies are needed to better explore this association.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

To be honest, given your BMI, I'd be a little concerned about the weight loss. Are you increasing fats and proteins to compensate for the missing carbs?

I can't answer your hba1c question other than to say as a long term T1 diabetic I'd be overjoyed to have an hba1c of 45.

Once more welcome.

Edited to point out that that study is quite old.
 
Last edited:
Thank you Ellie. Yes, I agree weight loss is not good but I struggle to eat enough even with meat, cheese, veg,, dairy etc. I miss my carbs!
 
I was diagnosed with diabetes two months after starting tamoxifen. Is there a link…well diabetes is a side effect noted in the literature. I personally decided to stop the medication as I was very low risk for reoccurrence, that however has not helped my blood sugars.
 
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